The Walking Dead (2011) – Season Two, Episode Three

Nov 23, 2011
Hari Navarro

The Walking Dead (2011) – Dir. Phil Abraham - © AMC

"Save the Last One" signals a dark turning point in this, "The Walking Dead's", much anticipated second season.

This third episode of AMC’s addictive tale of Man vs. Dead probes deep into the simmering and anger gripped heart of one of its headlining core characters. It is here that the extreme dark edges of the survival instinct kick in and the futility and ever present danger of a scared new world takes firm hold.

The Walking Dead (Synopsis) – Season 2, Episode 3: "Save the Last One". (Spoilers Ahead)

The episode opens with the stark image of Shane (Jon Bernthal) standing before a steam blurred mirror. He has shaved his head in an impulse that we will soon discover is fueled by a desire to cover a trail of blood and murder. He duly casts his mind back to the ‘walker’ infested school that served as cliff-hanger to the previous episode, the FEMA outpost into which he ventured to obtain vital lifesaving medicines and equipment.

Carl's Condition Destabilizes and Sophia Remains Vanished

Still in past tense, both Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) remain vigil at their son Carl’s (Chandler Riggs) bedside. His condition, he was accidentally shot by local hunter Otis (Pruitt Taylor Vince), is worsening. They impatiently await the return of both Otis and Shane, who are themselves in the process of being all but totally overwhelmed by a relentless surge of undead ‘walkers’.

Shane, in a last ditch attempt at survival, separates from Otis but injures his leg in a heavy fall.

Meanwhile Glenn (Steven Yeun) and the badly slashed T-Dog (IronE Singleton) arrive at Hershel’s (Scott Wilson) farm. The core characters having now split into three groups, the remainder of which; Dale, Daryl, Carol and Andrea, have decided to stay with the RV and continue the search for the still missing Sophia.

With Carl drifting in and out of consciousness and beginning to seizure the decision looms as to whether or not continue with his surgery. Regardless of the fact that Otis and Shane still have not returned with the essential respirator and anesthetics required.

The Walking Dead Changes Tone with Even Darker Days Promised

Back at the school Otis comes to Shane’s aid and manages to drag him clear of the ravenous dead that very nearly enlist him as one of their number. We then flash forward as Shane arrives back at the farm, alone. He reveals that Otis has died, sacrificing his life so that Shane could escape and Carl could survive.

We then return to the opening scene with Shane staring at his own image in the bathroom mirror. He has not yet begun to shave his head so we notice that a large clump of hair is missing. Blankly he plays back in his mind the ‘actual’ events that took place back at the overridden school.

Otis is gallantly dragging Shane away from the wall of 'walkers' that cram the scenes backdrop. They are low on ammunition and in a final gasp to save himself Shane fires a round into Otis’ leg. Crashing to the ground Otis manages to grab a handful of Shane's hair, tearing it out before succumbing to the walker horde. This gives Shane just enough chance to escape and return with the supplies in time for Carl’s surgery.

The final frame has Shane shave away the evidence and open the door to an entirely new dynamic to his already secretive and much conflicted character.

Stay tuned for coverage of the fourth episode in this series of thirteen, "Cherokee Rose".